A long rehabilitation is ahead for Robert Griffin III, who had reconstructive surgery on his right knee Wednesday. / Win McNamee, Getty Images

by Jarrett Bell and Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

by Jarrett Bell and Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

Robert Griffin III had surgery Wednesday to repair his torn right lateral collateral ligament and "re-do" the right anterior cruciate ligament he tore in college, according to a statement by the orthopedic surgeon, Dr. James Andrews, who performed the procedure in Pensacola, Fla.

"Robert Griffin III had successful knee surgery early this morning. He had a direct repair of his LCL and a re-do of his previous ACL reconstruction," Andrews said in the statement. "We expect a full recovery and it is everybody's hope and belief that due to Robert's high motivation, he will be ready for the 2013 season.

The goal of his treatment is to give him the best opportunity for a long professional career."

While Andrews' statement is hopeful Griffin could return for the 2013 season, other surgeons who are not connected to Griffin's case have told USA TODAY Sports that the recovery period could range from nine months to a year or longer. That means the odds are against Griffin being ready for the beginning of the season.

The recuperation could be complicated by the LCL surgery, which is tricky, and the fact that this is the second time Griffin has torn his right ACL. There is a possibility he could miss the 2013 season, or at least a major part of it.

As Griffin was undergoing surgery, his father, Robert Griffin II, texted to USA TODAY Sports: "Robert's ACL is intact, but not enough for his profession. You and I could be fine. But he is an athlete. So they will replace.''

Until now, the Redskins had not publicly confirmed any of the flurry of reports the past two days about the specific damage suffered by Griffin, who reinjured his knee during Sunday's NFC wild-card playoff loss against the Seattle Seahawks.

Griffin suffered a Grade 1 sprain of the LCL during a game against the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 9 but, after missing one game, returned for a Dec. 23 contest at the Philadelphia Eagles.

On Sunday, while wearing a brace, he aggravated the injury in the first quarter, then collapsed when his knee buckled while he tried to field a low snap in the fourth quarter. He left the game after that play.

Griffin posted the following message on Twitter, moments before surgery:

"Thank you for your prayers and support. I love God, my family, my team, the fans, & I love this game. See you guys next season."

Griffin's knee has been at the center of controversy since USA TODAY Sports reported Sunday that Andrews had not cleared Griffin to return to the game Dec. 9 after injuring his knee. Coach Mike Shanahan had told media that he had received the OK from Andrews, but the doctor, in two interviews with USA TODAY Sports, denied that.

Amid that controversy, Griffin was allowed to remain in the game Sunday, even after aggravating the injury. He was clearly limited in his ability to move, but Shanahan left him in the game until Griffin finally collapsed.

Baylor coach Art Briles expressed confidence in his former quarterback's ability to recover from any setback.

"Robert will do what he always does, he'll rise again," Briles told USA TODAY Sports. "He just attacked that ACL tear, which is what he's done with everything he's ever been involved with, intellectually or athletically.

"Whatever it is, come next fall, Robert will be Robert. Whatever the outcome winds up being, he'll attack it just like he attacks everything else â?? with a lot of fearless confidence and great effort."

Before the extent of the injury was known, a leading orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday was warning Redskins fans to brace for the worst after watching Griffin collapse to the turf late in Sunday's playoff game.

"That looked like an instability episode with a high chance that there would be some damage to the ACL,'' Dr. Neal ElAttrache, orthopedic surgeon at Kerlan-Job Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles told USA TODAY Sports.

"Any other arm chair doctor, knowing that kind of buckling episode, you wouldn't be surprised.''

ElAttrache is not just another Monday morning quarterback playing doctor.

He's the former Los Angeles Rams team orthopedist and as a current consultant to the St. Louis Rams, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers and a renowned orthopedic surgeon who repaired New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's torn ACL and medial collateral ligament suffered in New England's 2008 season opener.

Brady not only returned to win 2009 Comeback Player of the Year honors, he earned league MVP honors in 2010.

"Any other armchair doctor looking at that that knows how the knee buckles and functions, and that kind of buckling episode, you wouldn't be surprised that there wouldn't be damage to the ACL as a result of that,'' ElAttrache said.